Chapter 84: Ming Dai Makes Sugar, Zhou Sinian: So Sweet!

When Aunt Huang arrived at the educated youth quarters to find Ming Dai, she was busy making sugar.

It was Zhou Sinian who opened the door when she knocked. Seeing the two women, he tilted his head slightly, as if recognizing them, then stepped aside to let them in.

Aunt Huang shuffled inside, leaning against the door frame, with Huang Dalian following closely behind.

As soon as they entered, Zhou Sinian shut the door with a loud bang, startling both women.

He ignored them and walked straight toward the kitchen.

Hearing movement from the kitchen, the two women followed. Just as they got closer, they heard Ming Dai asking Zhou Sinian who had arrived.

Aunt Huang took the opportunity to speak. “Xiao Ming, dear, I came to deliver the things my old sister wanted to exchange. Is this a good time?”

Ming Dai’s voice came from inside. “Of course, of course! Auntie, come in quickly, it’s warm in here.”

The two women opened the door and stepped inside. The room was filled with steam and warmth.

“Auntie, there are stools over there. Please have a seat.”

Only then did Aunt Huang spot Ming Dai. She put down the basket she was carrying. “Xiao Ming, dear, I brought some dried apples for you to try.”

Ming Dai walked over with a steaming kettle and glanced at the large bag of dried fruit in the basket. “Auntie, why are you giving me so much? Shouldn’t you save some for the children?”

Aunt Huang waved her hand dismissively. “My family will bring more when they come to visit. This is for you all to enjoy.”

Ming Dai didn’t stand on ceremony and poured two bowls of roasted flour tea for the women. “Why didn’t you bring Tiedan and Goudan along?”

Huang Dalian took a sip of the sweet roasted flour tea and laughed. “Those two little troublemakers ran off early this morning to go ice skating with the other kids. You won’t see them anywhere before mealtime—they won’t come home until they’re hungry.”

“Ice skating?”

Ming Dai was pleasantly surprised. “Is the ice ready for skating already?”

Aunt Huang nodded. “The small river is frozen enough, but the big river still needs more time. The most famous one around here is the Yudai River—it runs through the entire Song City. Our village happens to be at a bend in the river, which is why it’s called Liujiawan. Once the Yudai River freezes over, I’ll take you ice skating. We can even go ice fishing. Your uncle catches plenty of fish every year!”

Ming Dai nodded excitedly. In her past life, she had gone out of her way to watch winter fishing, which she found fascinating. Ice skating was no problem for her either, though she had only ever skated at a rink and had never tried skating on natural ice.

Suddenly, a strong, sweet aroma caught the attention of the two women. They looked up and saw that Zhou Sinian had impatiently lifted the pot lid.

Ming Dai stood up and walked over to check. Inside the warm water, the glutinous rice mixed with malt had finished fermenting.

Aunt Huang and Huang Dalian followed her over to take a look. “Xiao Ming, dear, what are you making?”

Ming Dai gestured for Zhou Sinian to carry the basin out and place it on the dining table.

“This is for making sugar. Zhou Sinian loves sweets, but I can’t afford to keep buying them all the time, so I thought I’d try making some myself. Coincidentally, this month’s package included glutinous rice, so I decided to give it a shot.”

Aunt Huang had blind confidence in Ming Dai at this point. “You’re such a smart girl, even knowing how to make sugar.”

Ming Dai replied sheepishly, “When I was little, we had a neighbor who made and sold sugar. I watched them do it a few times, so I’m just trying to see if I can replicate it.”

Huang Dalian took a deep breath, savoring the fragrance. “I’m sure it’ll work—the smell alone is already so sweet.”

Ming Dai nodded. “Since you’re here, Sister Dalian, you can help me make it.”

Huang Dalian happily agreed.

They found a clean steaming cloth and poured the fermented glutinous rice onto it, squeezing it firmly. Soon, a generous amount of syrup flowed out, filling more than half a basin.

Zhou Sinian, unable to resist, secretly dipped his finger in to taste it. His eyes closed in bliss.

So sweet!

Ming Dai called for him to go tend the fire, but he didn’t even hear her.

Huang Dalian quickly responded, “I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

She wanted to put in some extra effort so that Xiao Ming would let her try a piece of the finished sugar. The pine nut candy Xiao Ming had given her last time was absolutely delicious!

Aunt Huang could hardly stand to watch—how could she be this greedy?

Ming Dai didn’t hesitate either. She turned to the cabinet and took out the peanuts and pine nuts she had pre-roasted.

“Auntie, could you help remove the skins?”

Aunt Huang nodded in agreement, washed her hands, and began peeling the peanuts and pine nuts.

After a moment of thought, she called out to Huang Dalian, who was tending the fire. “Eldest daughter-in-law, go home and roast that half bag of hazelnuts we have and bring them over.”

Huang Dalian’s eyes lit up. “Mother, we still have some sesame seeds at home. Should I roast those too?”

Aunt Huang laughed and scolded her, “You greedy little thing! I only have half a jar of sesame seeds, and you’re already eyeing them? Fine, go ahead—roast them all and bring them over!”

Huang Dalian wasted no time and ran off home.

Ming Dai smiled and praised Aunt Huang, “You’re such a good mother-in-law. You and Sister Dalian get along just like real mother and daughter.”

Aunt Huang shook out the peanut skins from her small basket. “I was a daughter-in-law once too. If you can be tolerant, why not be? Besides, my eldest daughter-in-law may be a bit of a foodie, but she’s very filial. She treats both me and your uncle well. The new year hasn’t even arrived yet, and she’s already made each of us a pair of cloth shoes for after the holiday. She always thinks ahead.

When someone treats you well, shouldn’t you do the same in return? It’s just a matter of putting yourself in their shoes.”

Ming Dai truly felt that Aunt Huang was one of the few truly clear-headed people she had met since arriving in this world. The other was the confirmed lifelong bachelor, Liu Laosan, both possessing an awareness beyond ordinary people.

She handed a handful of roasted peanuts to Zhou Sinian and told him to tend the fire. Then, she poured the sugar syrup into the pot and stirred it continuously with a spatula.

Aunt Huang glanced at Zhou Sinian, illuminated by the firelight. He wasn’t wearing his usual red headscarf this time, making him look much more normal.

His neatly trimmed black hair framed his downcast eyes as he fiddled with the peanuts in his hands. He appeared quiet and well-behaved—nothing like someone who had once been called crazy. In fact, thanks to Ming Dai’s regular care and feeding, he had put on some weight. Though still thinner than most, he at least looked presentable now, even appearing like a rather handsome young man.

This man truly had good fortune to have met Xiao Ming, the educated youth.

As the two women continued chatting, Zhou Sinian snacked on peanuts, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Before long, the syrup in the pot thickened, its color gradually deepening, and large bubbles began to form along the edges.

Seeing that it was about ready, Ming Dai grabbed an enamel tray coated with oil and carefully poured the thickened sugar mixture into it.

By this time, Aunt Huang had finished chopping the peanuts and had spread them evenly on the cutting board.

Ming Dai carried the enamel tray over and scooped out a portion of the sugar syrup. Aunt Huang quickly began stirring, ensuring the peanuts and syrup were evenly mixed.

Then, Ming Dai took out a pre-polished wooden mold, pressing the peanut-sugar mixture into it and smoothing it out, forming a large peanut candy brick.

Using a knife, she sliced the brick into thin pieces and laid them out on a bamboo tray to cool.

Zhou Sinian watched her with bright, eager eyes. Ming Dai, unable to resist his pleading puppy-like gaze, handed him a piece.

“It’s still sticky right now. Just lick it first, and wait until it cools before biting into it, okay?”

Zhou Sinian nodded furiously, took the candy, and sat off to the side, licking it carefully. It was so sweet!

If he had a tail, it would have been wagging like a little fan by now.

After finishing the peanut candy, they made a smaller batch with pine nuts, which yielded only about a dozen pieces.

Finally, Ming Dai grabbed some pre-roasted soybean flour from the cupboard, mixed in some syrup while it was still hot, and stretched out thin strands of sugar, forming delicate “silk candy.”

Both Aunt Huang and Zhou Sinian were amazed by her skill, while Zhou Sinian, even more excited, wanted to try making the sugar strands himself.

Fearing he would make a mess, Ming Dai refused and instead handed him two chopsticks with a piece of sugar syrup, letting him swirl it around for fun.

Sure enough, Zhou Sinian became absorbed in his new game and stopped insisting on making the candy himself.

Since Huang Dalian hadn’t returned yet, Ming Dai added a ladleful of water to the large pot and brought it to a boil. She poured some into a tea mug to drink later, then refilled the pot with more water. Carefully, she placed the enamel tray inside, ensuring the syrup stayed warm and didn’t harden.

Each of them had a bowl of sweetened water while crunching on crispy peanut candy. Aunt Huang beamed with joy.

“I’ve never eaten this much sugar in my entire life. Following Xiao Ming, I’m truly living the good life!”

Ming Dai chuckled. “Your blessings are still ahead of you, Auntie. It’s too early to say that.”

Aunt Huang laughed heartily, the sweetness of the moment making her spirits even lighter. Zhou Sinian glanced at her curiously, wondering what was so funny.

Before long, there was a knock at the door. Ming Dai went to open it and found Huang Dalian carrying a small basket, with two little tails—her children—following closely behind.

She looked exasperated. “These two little rascals latched onto me and refused to let go. They insisted on coming along.”

Goudan didn’t mind his mother’s exasperation. He grinned at Ming Dai with an innocent, gap-toothed smile.

“Little Aunt Ming! We’re here!”

Ming Dai smiled and welcomed them in, leading the three into the kitchen.

The two little ones were completely stunned by the tray full of cooling candy pieces!

She settled them next to Zhou Sinian and handed each of them a small ball of syrup to play with and taste. Before long, all three of them were happily playing together.

Huang Dalian had brought a large amount of roasted sesame, more than the remaining syrup could cover.

Aunt Huang waved a hand. “Just make a little bit. Grind the rest up, add some salt, and make sesame salt—it’s delicious!”

Ming Dai happily agreed. Compared to sweet snacks, she actually preferred salty and peppery flavors, and sesame salt sounded great.

She took out the enamel tray and proceeded to make hazelnut candy and sesame candy.

Luckily, Aunt Huang was there. Her hands, toughened by years of cooking, were practically immune to heat. If Ming Dai had to knead the hot candy mixture herself, she would probably have burned her hands.

Once everything was finished, it was already noon. Ming Dai invited them to stay for lunch, but Aunt Huang initially refused.

It wasn’t until Ming Dai said they would simply use the leftover rice dregs from making the sugar to make pancakes that Aunt Huang finally agreed to stay.

Ming Dai called Zhou Sinian over to wash the millstone while she placed the leftover rice dregs onto it, adding a bit of water to grind it into a smooth rice paste.

Aunt Huang watched and sighed in admiration. “Having a millstone really makes things convenient. In autumn, you two can make fresh corn paste pancakes. They’re sweet and absolutely delicious!”

Zhou Sinian’s ears twitched. Fresh corn paste pancakes… sweet… delicious!

Ming Dai sighed inwardly. There he goes again! He heard it!

She mixed the rice paste with some glutinous rice flour and kneaded it into a dough. After brushing a thin layer of oil onto the pan, she pressed the dough against the bottom, frying it until both sides turned golden brown. The result was soft, chewy, and fragrant. Paired with the sweet sugar water, everyone ate with delight.

Goudan was especially excited, shouting, “It feels like New Year’s already!”

Meanwhile, at the brigade leader’s house, Liu Dazhu was sitting at the table, eating dry cornbread with hot water. He sighed as he glanced at his two unlucky sons.

He hadn’t even made his wife angry today, so why had she stopped coming home to cook?

Realizing that his eldest daughter-in-law was also missing, he suddenly stretched out his chopsticks and smacked his eldest son hard on the head.

“Thud!”

Someone’s tears instantly welled up and spilled over.

“You useless brat! Did you piss off your wife? Is that why she’s not coming home to cook?”

Liu Laifu clutched his head, eyes watery. I’m not the only one whose wife isn’t home! Isn’t Mom also gone?!

But he didn’t dare say it aloud, fearing another beating.

Liu Laifa silently gnawed on his cornbread, relieved that he didn’t have a wife.